Baja Bound: “Achoo!”, Snuggles, and Dancing

Hello Reader!

Ten-month-old Alice Summer looked at me with a twinkle in her eye.

“Achoo!” she said clearly.

“Achoo!” I mimicked back.

Summer giggled—it was her baby joke. Coughing and sneezing crack her up—not surprising since she’s been surrounded by the rest of us fighting colds in succession. It helps to adopt her humorous attitude: sneezing is funny, and coughing is hilarious.

We all do better tuning into Baby Summer’s unique perspective on life. She has three concepts down pat: “Achoo!”, “Snuggle,” and “Dance.” If you say “snuggle,” she’ll rest her head on your shoulder or the floor (if that’s where she is), while “dance” brings a cute head wiggle.

Summer is always on the go—a happy baby who loves her own company as much as she loves people. When she’s tired, she sleeps. When hungry, she eats. She teaches us all the joy of balance and reminds us of the best life lessons:

Be happy playing by yourself.
Be happy playing with others.
Get plenty of rest.
Eat well.
Smile a lot.
Take illness lightly.
Snuggle on cue.
Dance!

Reflections on Travel

So that’s where my head is right now—trying to catch up with Baby Summer’s innate wisdom!

I’m late getting this newsletter out to you for a good reason! On December 8, we celebrated Sinterklaas (the Dutch version of Christmas) with all the kids and grandkids, complete with stuffed stockings and song-laden gifts. What fun!

We had planned to leave for Baja on December 10, but I caught a cold that was going around, which slowed our preparations. Still, we hit the road on December 12—congestion and all!

Embracing Baby Summer’s Wisdom

As I write this from our van in Baja, I reflect on our journey southward. We began spending winters here a few years ago, following the wisdom of migrating birds heading south. The first place we stay an hour over the border is an ecological reserve filled with thousands of birds. We’ll be in the van for three weeks, mostly in remote areas, before staying in a house in Loreto Bay for January.

It’s always a tricky transition from full-on festive family time to just the two of us in the van. The first day was tough—we were tired, sick, and cranky! But the long road has a way of working its magic. Yes, driving on narrow, potholed roads with periodic military stops can be tiring and a little stressful. Still, the vistas of the Sea of Cortez along Highway 5 are mesmerizing, as are the cactus fields along Highway 1 as we move south.

I carry Baby Summer’s life lessons with me: play happily, rest, eat well, smile, snuggle, dance, and laugh at coughs and sneezes. Last night, I went to bed at 7:30!

We’re listening to a Cultivation/Fantasy novel called Heaven’s Laws this time. I’m fascinated by how the author creates an elaborate world. I’m toying with writing something similar—with Jay’s help! Jay loves reading LitRPG (literary role-playing games) novels; Cultivation is a subset where characters grow in abilities and levels. I’d love to write a story where characters “level up” not by adding knowledge but by stripping away what gets in their way—essentially writing a Cultivation/Fantasy novel about being Naked in the Now 😊.

Good Times Ahead

We head to a remote beach for a week tomorrow. My son-in-law asked, “What are you going to do with yourselves?” I told him we would slow things way down while still hoping to play together (taking our Zodiac out for snorkeling and playing Scrabble), enjoy some solitary time (he’ll read; I’ll write), share long beach walks, eat fish tacos, do yoga and Pilates, and go to bed early for some snuggling. Hopefully, we’ll even dance under the full moon too! In other words, we will live by Baby Summer’s rules.

Closing Reflection

Today, let Baby Summer’s rules inspire you: pause and wiggle your shoulders in a bit of dance; take a deep, satisfying breath; snuggle with someone you love—or with yourself! And if you’re feeling under the weather, laugh at a sneeze or cough, and remember that this too shall pass.

Looking for a Last-Minute Holiday Gift?

How about my cheeky little book on mindfulness? Imagine the smile on someone’s face opening up Naked in the Now! It radiates playful mischief. Consider pairing it with special IOU dates for yourself or a partner.

Good News

Naked in the Now Ebook Discount: My publisher, Collective Ink, offers 50% off Naked in the Now ebook! Use code Winter50 at checkout. Click here to choose ebook format and enter the code.
My latest Article, “Practice the Art of Affectionate Witnessing,” is now out in Spirituality & Health Magazine.
New Write Now Mind Session: Starting January 2025! Email me if you’re interested and have never participated before.
Weekly Writing Workshops: Join me for weekly in-person writing workshops in Loreto Bay, Nopolo, BCS, during January 2025! If you are in the area, email me!